AFTER MOVE Forward Party decided last night (Nov. 1) there were grounds to allegations that two of its MPs had committed sexual harassment and voted to expel one but not the other, there was a lash back from female political activists who urged the MP who got off the hook to resign, Naewna newspaper said.
Move Forward leader Chaithawat Tulathon said after a six-hour meeting of its executive committee and MPs at Parliament that it had been concluded both Mr. Wutthiphong Thonglour, an MP from Prachinburi, and Mr. Chaiyamparvaan Manpianjit, an MP from Bangkok, had committed sexual harassment as alleged.
However while 120 out of 128 attending the meeting voted to expel Wuthiphong, when it came to Chaiyamparvan 106 did so, with this ruling out expulsion as according to the constitution a vote of three-fourth of executive committee members and MPs, totalling 116, is required to do so.
Chaiyamparvaan would be expelled if he commits this sort of wrongdoing as alleged again, Chaithawat added.
However today Ms. Pannika Wanich, a spokesperson of the Progressive Movement, posted a message on X, formerly Twitter, saying with 106 MPs and executive committee members out of 128 attending last night’s meeting having voted to expel Chaiyamparvaan, just 10 short of being shown the door, he should resign to show responsibility to the people.
Ms. Panusaya Sitthichirawattanakul, or Rung, a leader of United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, also posted on X saying that he must resign while urging Move Forward to solve this problem because not doing so would mean it would not be able to win other battles.
Ms. Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, or Mind, leader of Metropolis for Democracy group, posted this message, “Resign. It’s causing widespread damage. It’s all a mess.
“Those who voted to support him should reveal themselves, they are the people’s representatives and the public has the right to know their standpoint on these principles.”
Earlier some Move Forward MPs had removed images on their social media accounts and displayed a black background to show their disappointment at the vote.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Move Forward MPs facing sexual harassment charges Mr. Chaiyamparvaan Manpianjit, left, and Mr. Wutthiphong Thonglour, right. Photo: Matichon
Insert: Ms. Panusaya Sitthichirawattanakul, or Rung, centre, flanked by Ms. Pannika Wanich, left, and Ms. Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, or Mind, right. Photo: Naewna
Front Page: Move Forward leader Chaithawat Tulathon with images of Chaiyamparvaan Manpianjit, above, and Wutthiphong Thonglour, below, inset. Photo: Matichon
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